Upbeat Spring Fair and Moda fuel positive mood in the fashion and homeware industry. High street fashion en route to recovery according to BDO Sales Tracker report

Optimistic colours, eco-friendly products and positive vibes at the wholesale marketplace for homeware, gifts and fashion Spring Fair, which ran from 6 – 9 February at the NEC Birmingham, welcomed thousands of retail buyers and independent store retailers.  

The upbeat mood signaled a welcomed return to physical events in the UK and the significance of face to face meetings and networking opportunities so dearly missed over the last two years due to the Covid-19 restrictions.

Spread across eight halls, the show also incorporated the Moda fashion trade show where a line-up of brands encompassing womenswear, jewellery, watch and accessories, footwear and lifestyle products were showcased to the trade.

Daily catwalk presentations highlighted the key directions for the Autumn/Winter 2022 season, showcasing curated looks under the headings of Childhood Dreams, for playful ensembles; Off The Grid, for the urban traveller look; Liquid Metal, for 70s-inspiration, along with new collections presented by Jayley, Saloos and One Hundred Stars.

Also featured at this edition was The Good Retail Awards 2022 launching with the Power of One Award won by plastic-free beauty and skincare company Whitfords for its sustainable, multi-purpose packaging.  The award aims to recognise businesses that has made one small change for an impactful results. 

Meanwhile in the same week, the latest figures released by the BDO’s High Street Sales Tracker revealed that total fashion sales in the UK jumped by 61.5% in the week to 6 February 2022, compared with the same period in 2021.

Total like-for-like sales increased by 44.04% from a base of -7.52% for the same week last year. 

In-store like-for-like fashion sales were up 6,707% on the equivalent week in 2021, when the UK was in lockdown and retail stores were closed in Lockdown for the third time.

The BDO High Street Sales Tracker covers online and in-store sales in the UK across fashion, homeware and lifestyle.

Photos © Lucia Carpio 2022 at Spring Fair/Moda - NEC Birmingham  

ISPO Munich, PURE London and Scoop to go digital in spring 2021

At a time when many European countries are facing a bleak winter of living with the Coronavirus, what is the chance come Summer 2021 for international trade events to proceed with their physical show.  For the time being, it is slim and many plans are on hold.  Ging digital probably is the best solution. 

PURE London 2019 catwalk show.
Photo by Lucia Carpio.

 Here in the UK trade show organiser Hyve Group has announced its Pure London and Scoop shows scheduled to take place in February 2021 have been cancelled due to ongoing Covid-19 disruption.  A digital platform - Fashion Together – will be held instead on 23 February.  

The next physical editions of Pure London and Scoop will be moved to September 12-14  2021.

The Group's trade show Moda in Birmingham has also cancelled, and its next physical edition will now take place September 5-7 September 2021.

ISPO Munich Januanry 2020.

Meanwhile the announcement from the German-based sports business platform ISPO Munich that its next show scheduled for February 1-5 will be held completely online is not so surprising either.  This probably means the organiser Messe München has given up its hope to do a hybrid event – a combination of digital and on-premises events - deemed not feasible at this time.

Klaus Dittrich, the Chairman and CEO of Messe München, explains: “With ISPO Munich Online, we are enabling all customers around the world to participate in the event. At the same time, we can create formats that integrate new target groups. I am sure that in February we will experience an event, which will offer digital industry discussions of the highest caliber.”

ISPO Munich Online will offer the usual benefits of physical events without the luxury of face-to-face contact, allowing “attendants” to find new products and brands and businesses to network.  Organisers say participants can take part in forums and discussions via live streaming and chat rooms.

For the first time, end-consumers will also have the chance to participate digitally and conduct a direct dialogue with the industry. In brand rooms for product presentations, workshops and master classes, brands and companies will have the opportunity to present themselves and engage with sport and outdoor fans throughout the world.

ISPO Open Innovation has already shown this integration works: The approximately 80,000 end-consumers from around 70 countries bring their know-how to the crowdsourcing and market research campaigns – delivering valuable insights and inspiration for new products and ideas to companies all year.

Scoop trade fair owner has taken over PURE London

Just when PURE London and Scoop International - two established London trade shows - are launching their Spring 2019 editions this weekend, news have emerged this week that the two are to be consolidated under one owner.

This should be seen as a welcoming development, as buyers and exhibitors will be able to economise on time and investment to attend one rather than two separate yet overlapping events in the future, although both fairs are different in feel and approach.

According to a report by Drapers, independent retailers, brands and agents were largely supportive of the consolidation following the corporate takeover of Pure London this week, believing more “synergies” will be created across events.

ITE, owner of Moda, Scoop and Jacket Required, completed its £300m purchase of Ascential’s exhibition division, which operates Pure London, and Spring and Autumn Fair.

According to Drapers’ report, Mark Shashoua, chief executive of ITE, said the exhibitions will receive investment following the deal: “Under ITE’s ownership we look forward to treating [these events] as core, giving them the investment, management focus and international platform they need to grow,” he was quoted as saying.

Ian Campbell-Smith, director at sales agency Palladio Associates, told Drapers that  the deal was an opportunity to create more synergy between the shows and that the opportunity for a linked event between Scoop and Pure could be beneficial.

“There is a crossover [in terms of brands] between Scoop and Pure but only 15%-20%. There is not much cross-pollination and the two events could allow London to be a stronger location.”

Another womenswear agent said the shows should be consolidated: “I’ve always been of the opinion that there should be only one major show for our sector. It’s for the convenience of the buyers and many buyers do both. It’s expensive and not convenient.”